Health, Family Health and Preparedness, Emergency Medical Services

Rule R426-1

General Definitions

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 36974
Filed: 10/23/2012 10:56:00 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this rule is to fulfill the Governor's mandate for rule review and simplification.

Summary of the rule or change:

The rule change eliminates redundancy, provides sequential numbering, and reflects best practice updates for all aspects of the Emergency Medical Services Act (Title 26, Chapter 8a).

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Title 26, Chapter 8a

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

No anticipated fiscal impact to the state budget because there are no changes in the rule requirements that are imposed by these amendments.

local governments:

No anticipated fiscal impact to local governments because there are no changes in the rule requirements that are imposed by these amendments.

small businesses:

No anticipated fiscal impact to small businesses because there are no changes in the rule requirements that are imposed by these amendments.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

No anticipated fiscal impact to businesses because there are no changes in the rule requirements that are imposed by these amendments.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

No anticipated fiscal impact for affected persons because there are no changes in the rule requirements that are imposed by these amendments.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

In response to the Governor's Executive Order to examine all administrative rules and reduce regulatory impact that may be inhibiting economic growth, the rules governing Emergency Medical Services providers are being repealed, simplified, and reenacted. Fiscal impact is expected to be positive for business as the requirements are streamlined and updated.

David Patton, PhD, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Health
Family Health and Preparedness, Emergency Medical Services
3760 S HIGHLAND DR
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84106

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Guy Dansie at the above address, by phone at 801-273-6671, by FAX at 801-273-4165, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

12/17/2012

This rule may become effective on:

12/24/2012

Authorized by:

David Patton, Executive Director

R426. Health, Family Health and Preparedness, Emergency Medical Services.

R426-1. General Definitions.

R426-1-100. Authority and Purpose.

This rule establishes uniform definitions for all R426 rules. It also provides administration standards applicable to all R426 rules.

 

R426-1-200. General Definitions.

The definitions in Title 26, Chapter 8a are adopted and incorporated by reference into this rule, in addition:

(1) " Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "AEMT" means an individual who has completed an AEMT training program, approved by the Bureau, who is certified by the Department as qualified to render services enumerated in this rule.

(2) "Air Ambulance personnel" mean the pilot and patient care personnel who are involved in an air medical transport.

(3) "Air Ambulance Service" means any publicly or privately owned organization that is licensed or applies for licensure under R426-3 and provides transportation and care of patients by air ambulance.

(4) "Air Ambulance Service Medical Director" means a physician knowledgeable of potential medical complications which may arise because of air medical transport, and is responsible for overseeing and assuring that the appropriate air ambulance, medical personnel, and equipment are provided for patients transported by the air ambulance service.

(5) "Categorization" means the process of identifying and developing a stratified profile of Utah hospital trauma critical care capabilities in relation to the standards defined under R426-5-7.

(6) "Certify," "Certification," and "Certified" mean the official Department recognition that an individual has completed a specific level of training and has the minimum skills required to provide emergency medical care at the level for which he is certified.

(7) "Competitive grant" means a grant awarded through the Emergency Medical Services Grants Program on a competitive basis for a share of available funds.

(8) "Continuing Medical Education" means Department-approved training relating specifically to the appropriate level of certification designed to maintain or enhance an individual's emergency medical skills.

(9) "County or Multi-County EMS Council or Committee" means a group of persons recognized as the legitimate entity within the county to formulate policy regarding the provision of EMS.

(10) "Course Coordinator" means an individual who has completed a Department course coordinator course and is certified by the Department as capable to conduct Department-authorized EMS courses.

(11) "Department" means the Utah Department of Health.

(12) "Emergency Medical Dispatcher" or "EMD" means an individual who has completed a Department approved EMD training program, and is certified by the Department as qualified to render services enumerated in this rule.

(13) "Emergency Medical Dispatch Center" means an agency designated by the Department for the routine acceptance of calls for emergency medical assistance from the public, utilizing a selective medical dispatch system to dispatch licensed ambulance, and paramedic services.

(14) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR" means an individual who has completed a Department approved EMR training program, and is certified by the Department as qualified to render services enumerated in this rule.

(15) "Emergency Medical Technician" or "EMT" means an individual who has completed a Department approved EMT training program and is certified by the Department as qualified to render services enumerated in this rule.

(16) "EMS" means Emergency Medical Services.

(17) "EMS Incident" means an instance in which an Emergency Medical Services Provider is requested to provide or potentially provide emergency medical services.

(18) "EMS Instructor" means an individual who has completed a Department EMS instructor course and is certified by the Department as capable to teach EMS personnel.

(19) "EMS Stand-by Service" means an on-site licensed ambulance, paramedic service, or designated quick response unit at an event or activity where a County or City Mass Gathering Permit is required by the jurisdiction having authority. It does not include an assembly of people at a location with permanent facilities designed for that specific assembly unless the assembly meets the criteria for a County or City Mass Gathering permit.

(20) "Exclusive License" means the sole right to perform the licensed act in a defined geographic service area, and that prohibits the Department of Health from performing the licensed act, and from granting the right to anyone else.

(21) "Grants Review Subcommittee" means a subcommittee appointed by the EMS Committee to review, evaluate, prioritize and make grant funding recommendations to the EMS Committee.

(22) "Inclusive Trauma System means the coordinated component of the State emergency medical services (EMS) system composed of all general acute hospitals licensed under Title 26, Chapter 21, trauma centers, and prehospital providers which have established communication linkages and triage protocols to provide for the effective management, transport and care of all injured patients from initial injury to complete rehabilitation.

(23) "Individual" means a human being.

(24) "Level of Care" means the capabilities and commitment to the care of the trauma patient available within a specified facility.

(25) "Level of Certification" means the official Department recognized step in the certification process in which an individual has attained as an EMS provider.

(26) "Meritorious Complaint" means a complaint that is made by a patient, a member of the immediate family of a patient, or health care provider, that the Department determines is substantially supported by the facts and/or:

(a) has repeatedly failed to provide service at the level or in the exclusive geographic service area required licensee;

(b) has repeatedly failed to follow operational standards established by the EMS Committee;

(c) has committed an act in the performance of a professional duty that endangered the public or constituted gross negligence; or

(d) has otherwise repeatedly engaged in conduct that is adverse to the public health, safety, morals or welfare, or would adversely affect the public trust in the emergency medical service system.

(27) "Matching Funds" means that portion of funds, in cash, contributed by the grantee to total project expenditures.

(a) "On-line Medical Control" which refers to physician medical direction of prehospital personnel during a medical emergency; and

(b) "Off-line Medical Control" which refers to physician oversight of local EMS services and personnel to assure their medical accountability.

(28) "Medical Director" means a physician certified by the Department to provide off-line medical control.

(29) "Net Income" - The sum of net service revenue, plus other operating revenue and subsidies of any type, less operating expenses, interest expense, and income.

(30) "Paramedic Ground Ambulance" means the provision of advanced life support patient care and transport by paramedic personnel in a licensed ambulance.

(30) "Paramedic Service" means the provision of advanced life support patient care by paramedic personnel without the ability to transport patients.

(31) "Paramedic Unit" means a vehicle which is properly equipped, maintained and used to transport paramedics to the scene of emergencies to perform paramedic services without the ability to transport patients.

(32) "Paramedic Tactical Service" means the retrieval and field treatment of injured peace officers or victims of traumatic confrontations by paramedics who are trained in combat medical response.

(33) "Paramedic Tactical Unit" means a vehicle which is properly equipped, maintained and used to transport paramedics to the scene of traumatic confrontations to provide paramedic tactical services.

(34) "Patient Care Report" means a record of the response by each responding Emergency Medical Services Provider unit to each patient during an EMS Incident.

(35) "Per Capita grants" mean block grants determined by prorating available funds on a per capita basis as delineated in 26-8a-207, as part of the Emergency Medical Services Grants Program.

(36) "Permit" means the document issued by the Department that authorizes a vehicle to be used in providing emergency medical services.

(37) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or group of individuals acting together for a common purpose, agency, or organization of any kind public or private.

(38) "Physician" means a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in Utah.

(39) "Pilot" means any individual licensed under Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 135.

(40) "Prehospital Care" means medical care given to an ill or injured patient by a designated or licensed EMS provider outside of a hospital setting.

(41) "Primary emergency medical services" means a for-profit organization that is the only licensed or designated service in a geographical area.

(42) "Quick Response Unit" means an entity that provides emergency medical services to supplement local ambulance services or provide unique services.

(43) "Resource Hospital" means a facility designated by the EMS Committee to provide on-line medical control for the provision of prehospital emergency care.

(44) "Scene" means the location of initial contact with the patient.

(45) "Selective Medical Dispatch System" means a department-approved reference system used by a local dispatch agency to dispatch aid to medical emergencies which includes:

(a) systemized caller interrogation questions;

(b) systemized pre-arrival instructions; and

(c) protocols matching the dispatcher's evaluation of injury or illness severity with vehicle response mode and configuration.

(46) "Specialized Life Support Air Ambulance Service" means a level of care which requires equipment or specialty patient care by one or more medical personnel in addition to the regularly scheduled air medical team.

(47) "Training Officer" means an individual who has completed a department Training Officer Course and is certified by the Department to be responsible for an EMS provider organization's continuing medical education, recertification records, and testing.

(48) "Transition period" means prescribed range of dates that includes a begin and end date in which EMS providers will change their level of certificate from existing levels of certification to the Department adopted National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration's (NTHSA) National EMS Scope of Practice Model. This model names levels of certification as EMR, EMT, AEMT and Paramedic.

 

KEY: emergency medical services definitions

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26-8a